Hepatitis B virus replication within the human spleen.
Southern blot analysis of splenic DNA from three patients with chronic hepatitis B revealed the presence of replicative intermediate forms of viral DNA. Hepatitis B viral RNA was detected in splenic RNA from two cases. Thus, hepatitis B virus appears to replicate in the human spleen, although at a lower level than in the liver.
Di Bisceglie
A M
AM
Liver Diseases Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Hoofnagle
J H
JH
D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral